Monday, February 23, 2009

bloggin' angry.

So at this point, we've all heard about the 11-year-old Pennsylvania boy accused of fatally shooting his father's pregnant fiancee, yes? No?

I stumbled across a forum where people are foaming at the mouth about guns. Of course the gun debate is going to be brought into this, because it's lax gun laws that are responsible for this woman's death, right?

No, no they're not.

One of the people on this forum said, and I quote, "I think the real issue here is that the father allowed an 11-year-old unrestricted access to a gun."

REALLY? THAT'S THE REAL ISSUE?

This child is deeply, deeply disturbed. A child who is raised with such little respect for human life that he can justify killing two people would not be stopped by the lack of a gun in the house. I can think of at least 5 things in my house right now that I could use to murder someone as easily as I could shoot a gun, all of which Ace will have easy access to when he gets older. I have cast iron cookware that could really jack up a person's skull, but nobody's calling for stricter laws on cast iron cookware storage.

Drew had unrestricted access to probably 15 guns, but he never shot anyone. In fact, raise your hand if you had unrestricted access to guns but somehow managed to spend your whole childhood NOT SHOOTING PEOPLE. Actually, my stepmom and I CONSTANTLY butted heads, and I knew exactly where all of her guns were and exactly how to use them, and never did I think "gosh, all of my problems would end if I just iced her." I'm not going to lie and say I never wanted her to go away (sorry, Vicki, I love you and I was a terrible teenager) but I never shot her, now did I?

Stricter gun laws wouldn't have helped this dad recognize that the kid was completely jacked in the head, nor would they have made the kid hate his stepmom less. Stricter gun laws will not make parents better parents, or thugs better people, or extremely disturbed kids less disturbed. Murder won't go away if guns go away. Stricter gun laws will just make it hard for those of us who want guns for the RIGHT reasons (like protecting ourselves from juvenile maniacs) to get them.

Hmph. I'm gonna go make white beans (my gas tonight is one of the 5 things I could use to murder people) and clean my car. My righteous indignation has given me the push I need to get going for the day.

14 comments:

Kayra said...

Amen. I'm right there with you. Like Drew, my husband grew up with his own guns and didn't kill anyone. and on any given moment, my high heels can be used as weapons, maybe they should be banned too. The stricter laws on guns only apply to law abiding citizens, thugs will get their hands on guns with or without laws.

Jen said...

You know how I feel, I am a gun owner. It is for my protection an the other guns are for bringing home MEAT! LOL I would NOT shoot anyone, unless I HAD TO PROTECT MY OWN LIFE OR SOMEONE ELSE IN MY HOME,etc....

My husband grew up with guns readily at his access and I did too. But we knew NOT to play or touch them unless an adult was around.

This kid is obviously deeply disturbed and needs some help.

Erin Steele said...

I hate guns and think they are all worthless but that is not the point here...i don't think stricter gun laws help. People who really want a gun or to kill someone will find a way to do it. But i do think guns need to be kept more securely locked or restricted from children. I was raised on a farm and shot guns as a child but i dont think guns are always safe around children...it is just like anything else. You lock your cabinets where poisons are and you should lock/use safety precautions with guns. Any child/person who does something like this is deranged and locks wont even help them.

HEATHER said...

AMEN Sister Stacey!!
I can't imagine what that poor kid has been subjected to, in order to think that shooting someone is the answer.

mayberry said...

I love it when you get on a soap box!

Rhonda said...

AMEN!! You are as RIGHT as RIGHT can be!!!

Every time some nutjob goes into a mall and massacres innocent shoppers or a kid goes into a school and kills his peers and teachers it always sparks a debate about the guns. Nevermind that the mall shooter was screwed over by both of his parents, society, lack of mental help---no matter that he was rejected by everyone in his life that should have loved and nurtured him as a child...it's really just about the gun that was in his reach. yah. right. It's a skewed way of thinking that I will just not ever understand.

We got guns and the govt can have 'em when they pry 'em from my cold, dead fingers.

dhcoop said...

I agree with you completely!

AM said...

Whatever. My dad ALWAYS had a LOADED gun in the house for protection and we knew how to use it. It never occurred to me to try and take someone else. I think it made to respect it's power more knowing and seeing than wondering.

Shit...I also knew if I DID do anything my parents would kill me. The problem is yes, the kid is disturbed but also these kids have no idea what respect for authority and no fear of the pitiful, sad "consequences" ...hell, if all you're getting is a slap on the wrist....anywho....!

AM said...

and my family nor I lock the cabinet where the poison is...we teach the kid to stay away from the poison...hmmmm....same thing works for guns and many other things in life.

Melinda said...

"Drew had unrestricted access to probably 15 guns, but he never shot anyone." Nope. Just a poor innocent ceiling that was just minding its own business.

Personally, I think you should be required to pass an IQ test before you buy a gun or are permitted to use one. Some people are just really, really, really stupid.

True story: My sister's friend went hunting with her little brother. He decided to clean the gun while it was still loaded. Unfortunately, my sister's friend was killed when the gun went off.

Sandi said...

We have an arsenal in our house, but we are teaching our child about gun safety and how to use them and not use them! Of course, we also teach her to respect other people. That should be a given.

watercolordaisy said...

Haven't heard the story. Don't think children should have access to guns. Humans don't fully possess advanced reasoning skills until they are in their mid 20's. We show them tv shows and they play video games where killing is the norm. So is his family to blame for having guns available in a home where there was no proper fear and respect taught for them? Yep. His mind isn't formed fully enough to have made a good choice. Just a quick and deadly one. The adults should be charged.

Stacey said...

Children learn the value of a human life at a very young age. This boy clearly didn't have that respect or that distinction, and is coming from a very disturbed place. The lack of a gun wouldn't have stopped him at all. He could've killed her in many, many different ways.

And as proven here, children can be taught a healthy respect for guns and be around guns and not shoot people. In fact, the majority of children who are raised with unrestricted access to guns in their household haven't gone on shooting sprees. It's just that when one does, the guns are blamed instead of the children, the parents, or the community.

Dr. Wifey said...

stricter gun laws mean only criminal will have them